Labour and the Left in the 1930s

Description

The 1930s was the decade of the Jarrow March and the International Brigade - the 'Red Decade' of literary imagination. Yet there has seldom been a time when the influence of the British Left has been at a lower ebb. Why was this? In this book Ben Pimlott suggests answers, and challenges established myths about left-wing politics during a crucial period. Pimlott's study is concerned with the relationship between ideas and political action. The author is interested in the distinction which can be drawn between 'expressive' and 'instrumental' approaches to political behaviour, and a central theme is that the 'expressive' politics of some sections of the Left had an ironic effect of hindering the achievement of widely shared goals.

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Contents

1. Introduction; Part I. Labour and the Crisis: 2. Watershed; 3. Leadership; 4. Fabians and Keynesians; 5. Labour and the Left: the Socialist League; 6. Radicalism or Socialism?; Part II. United Front: 7. Contests; 8. Outside Left and the United Front; 9. Labour and the United Front; 10. 'Unity'; Part III. Rank and File: 11. Repression; 12. Revolt; 13. Struggle; 14. Revolution; Part IV. Alliance: 15. Popular Front; 16. Labour and the Left Book Club; 17. Parliamentary Alliance?; 18. Cripps and the Petition Campaign; 19. Labour and the War 1939-40; 20. Conclusion.